DURHAM, N.C. – Kyla Bryant scored 16 points, Morgan Callahan added a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds and North Carolina Central held Morgan State to 2 of 18 shooting in the fourth period to pull away for a 71-53 MEAC women's basketball victory at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Monday.

Shakiria Foster scored 14 points for the Eagles, who improved to 4-5 in the MEAC and 7-17 overall after snapping a three-game losing skid. The win also avenged an earlier loss to the Bears (4-5 MEAC, 11-13 overall) and helped the Eagles toward their goal of finishing among the top four teams in the regular season. Both NCCU and Morgan State are tied for fourth in conference with the MEAC Tournament three weeks away.

The Eagles led by as many as 12 in the second half but the Bears closed within 51-48 early in the fourth period. Just when Morgan State was gaining momentum, NCCU locked down on defense to recapture control.

The Bears suddenly struggled to score against NCCU's air-tight defense led by Callahan. Morgan State was 0-for-13 during a five-minute stretch and made only one of their last 17 shot attempts. NCCU outscored its opponent 20-7 in the fourth as the Bears were held without a field goal in the final 2:36 of the contest.

NCCU won the rebounding battle 42-37 over Morgan State, one of the top MEAC rebounding teams. The Eagles also scored 23 points off 21 Morgan State turnovers.

"We were everywhere locked down and rebounding the basketball," NCCU Head Coach Terrence Baxter said. "That's the difference for this team. We defend pretty good. If we can clean up that backboard, you are in trouble."

On the offensive end, Coach Baxter put the ball in Bryant's hands and she delivered. The sophomore guard scored nine points including 7-of-7 free throws in the fourth period. Jada Creech added five points and Foster scored four points in the period.

Callahan played perhaps her most complete game of the season. In addition to her double-double, she contributed six assists, three blocks and three steals. The graduate forward played a big role in holding Morgan State's top scorer and rebounder Naya Ojukwu to 13 points and four rebounds. Ojukwu had 24 points and 13 rebounds in their first meeting in January, an 84-79 Morgan State win.

"[Callahan] didn't want to lose today," Baxter said. "She was all over the place, almost a triple double today. When she plays with that energy and that want-to, we're hard to beat."

Callahan is now nine points away from reaching the 1,000-point career milestone.

"I really haven't been thinking about 1,000 points," Callahan said. "I just want to win."

The Eagles made zero three-pointers in Saturday's loss to Coppin State but responded by shooting 6 of 14 behind the arc for 42.9 percent on Monday.

NCCU's three-point shooting combined with Callahan's scoring in the paint helped the Eagles open a 34-26 halftime lead. Using nifty inside moves, Callahan scored 11 points on 4 of 6 shooting to go with four rebounds and two assists.

After two straight home games, NCCU ventures to Maryland Eastern Shore for a Saturday road game at 2 p.m.